Going to work a bit more with elements and then might give premier a shot out of curiosity for a few months to see if I can get my head around it or not.

In my experience, video editing programs look more complicated than they are. It's nothing like learning photoshop, which you can spend your whole life in and still find things you didn't know about years down the line.

That being said, the act of cutting and piecing together something worth watching is much harder than making one image look it's best.

In my experience, video editing programs look more complicated than they are. It's nothing like learning photoshop, which you can spend your whole life in and still find things you didn't know about years down the line.

That being said, the act of cutting and piecing together something worth watching is much harder than making one image look it's best.

Yep, I've found I now think about scenes and cuts while I'm shooting (not that it seems to be helping ). That only started after trying to edit some GoPro footage a few years ago. Anything I can do in the field to minimize the time at the computer is in my book. I also don't think in video yet which I'm sure will help.

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Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind. EXCEPT DOLL DUDES AND PLACENTA PEOPLE!Dr. Seuss

Pretty impressed with the 7+ camera. Took this the other day at school, and then one of my cat. I zoomed in on the original cat picture, so it lost some quality, and then did minor editing on ProCamera.

I'm going to be purchasing a Canon EOS 70D fairly soon. Do you suggest I get the 18-135mm bundle, or buy body only and a different lens separately? I'd like the 18-135, but I hear the lens' that come with cameras aren't the greatest.

I'm going to be purchasing a Canon EOS 70D fairly soon. Do you suggest I get the 18-135mm bundle, or buy body only and a different lens separately? I'd like the 18-135, but I hear the lens' that come with cameras aren't the greatest.

If you know what focal lengths you're going to favor from past experience then I would get a body without a kit lens. Just buy the lenses you know you prefer. If this is a first experience, the 18-135 is fine to get your feet wet. After a few thousand shots, go back and see where you shot the most (as in focal length) and then you can consider buying better/faster lenses in those ranges.

The canon 50 1.8 and or 40 2.8 are such a good bargains for their price to performance that I'd consider picking one of those up as well and if choosing, I'd recommend the 40 over the 50. There's nearly zero impact in carrying it as a faster lens than the kit 18-135 you're already considering for lower light stuff.

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Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind. EXCEPT DOLL DUDES AND PLACENTA PEOPLE!Dr. Seuss

If you know what focal lengths you're going to favor from past experience then I would get a body without a kit lens. Just buy the lenses you know you prefer. If this is a first experience, the 18-135 is fine to get your feet wet. After a few thousand shots, go back and see where you shot the most (as in focal length) and then you can consider buying better/faster lenses in those ranges.

The canon 50 1.8 and or 40 2.8 are such a good bargains for their price to performance that I'd consider picking one of those up as well and if choosing, I'd recommend the 40 over the 50. There's nearly zero impact in carrying it as a faster lens than the kit 18-135 you're already considering for lower light stuff.

plus, i wouldn't buy a 50 until canon release the updated 50 1.4 (even at the beginner level).

the 35 f/2 is a suitable lens that would compete with the 40 f/2.8. the 35 is (marginally) sharper than the 40 at f/2.8, but has arguably better focusing and IS. It's also +$250-300.

i'd recommend the 40 over the current 50 (1.4 or 1.8), but the 35 over both.

If you know what focal lengths you're going to favor from past experience then I would get a body without a kit lens. Just buy the lenses you know you prefer. If this is a first experience, the 18-135 is fine to get your feet wet. After a few thousand shots, go back and see where you shot the most (as in focal length) and then you can consider buying better/faster lenses in those ranges.

The canon 50 1.8 and or 40 2.8 are such a good bargains for their price to performance that I'd consider picking one of those up as well and if choosing, I'd recommend the 40 over the 50. There's nearly zero impact in carrying it as a faster lens than the kit 18-135 you're already considering for lower light stuff.

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Originally Posted by unccrombie

plus, i wouldn't buy a 50 until canon release the updated 50 1.4 (even at the beginner level).

the 35 f/2 is a suitable lens that would compete with the 40 f/2.8. the 35 is (marginally) sharper than the 40 at f/2.8, but has arguably better focusing and IS. It's also +$250-300.

i'd recommend the 40 over the current 50 (1.4 or 1.8), but the 35 over both.

No problem at all. I see the 50 and 40 frequently on CL or Fred Miranda etc used for under a hundred bucks shipped. Don't have any fear of buying a used lens at these levels. Sure you might get unlucky but over the years I've never got an unuseable lens used out of a dozen or so.

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Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind. EXCEPT DOLL DUDES AND PLACENTA PEOPLE!Dr. Seuss

I always say a 50/1.8 (or similar "inexpensive" fixed focus lens) should be everyone's first DSLR lens. Kit lenses are not helpful at all and most people end up bagging them after a few months once they understand what they want out of a lens. A "fast 50" just gets people there faster without wasting money on a lens that will eventually not be used.

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I really haven't been shooting much which is my own fault. I have the time just haven't gotten to it. But I am going to Maui in a few days so I'm excited to get back at it.

I think my big problem is that I never know what I want to shoot, then I just don't do anything. Any tips? Do you guys typically have your camera with you at most times?

yeah, i have mine with me most times. I'll just bring a lens or two and leave most the gear (tripod, remote, other lenses) in the place we're staying. 70d is light enough for me that it's not a burden just bulky in the backback.

yeah, i have mine with me most times. I'll just bring a lens or two and leave most the gear (tripod, remote, other lenses) in the place we're staying. 70d is light enough for me that it's not a burden just bulky in the backback.

I grabbed a camera bag to help with carrying the body and a lens or two around. I'll hopefully have some good pics in a few weeks to share!

I really haven't been shooting much which is my own fault. I have the time just haven't gotten to it. But I am going to Maui in a few days so I'm excited to get back at it.

I think my big problem is that I never know what I want to shoot, then I just don't do anything. Any tips? Do you guys typically have your camera with you at most times?

If I'm traveling I have my camera with me all the time (love the Fuji X100 as a walk-around camera). Other times I only bring my camera if I know I want to shoot something specific. Sadly, I don't make much of a point to specifically go out and shoot stuff anymore. I'm at the point where I have hundreds of pictures I like, but they just sit on my computer. I actually do make a fair amount of physical prints, but they are just in a pile in a room because it's not practical to frame and hang them. So I'm just at a point where it's not that enticing to go make photos, spend the time to edit them, post them, print them, just so they can be added to the pile of other photos I have. Cynical I know, but that's just where I'm at.

Actually I did make a print that I'm proud of recently. It's a 30" x 45" face-mounted acrylic print of the national anthem during the Vikings first official game at U.S. Bank Stadium from last season. I put it up next to my 30" x 45" print of the national anthem during the MLB All Star Game at Target Field that I shot in 2014, so it kind of showcases the two biggest sports "moments" I've been able to capture.

I am looking to purchase my wife a digital camera, and would love suggestions. She loves photography, but has never taken any formal classes. Looking for one that is less than $400, not too bulky, etc.

Anyone have any tips of things I should be looking for or cameras I should look at?

I am looking to purchase my wife a digital camera, and would love suggestions. She loves photography, but has never taken any formal classes. Looking for one that is less than $400, not too bulky, etc.

Anyone have any tips of things I should be looking for or cameras I should look at?

Used Canon Rebels (T5i or up) and a 40 or 24 2.8. A smaller alternate body is the SL1. Canon lenses are super cheap used and plentiful. There are several great inexpensive options for zooms as well.

I'm sure Nikon has similar options, I just don't know those models off the top of my head and from what I've seen, Canon is easier and cheaper to get lenses for.

Spend money on the lenses, not the body. If you want a new DSLR, that's a bit low on the budget. Paying for a community college intro to photography is also a great thing to include.

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Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind. EXCEPT DOLL DUDES AND PLACENTA PEOPLE!Dr. Seuss

We couldn't get away from work to get into the totality band so we're going out to one of the nearby interesting landscapes to try to shoot some time lapse (never done it before) and see if we can get some unusual foreground stuff while the eclipse is happening.

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Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind. EXCEPT DOLL DUDES AND PLACENTA PEOPLE!Dr. Seuss